Firefighters

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on funding mechanisms, leaving some uncertainty about how costs will be covered.

Firefighters' Mental Health Support Act

This act makes mental health support programs available to volunteer and part-time firefighters in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

• Makes participation in the state's employee assistance program, which includes mental health services, available for all active members of a volunteer fire department and all active volunteers of a combination fire department recognized under the Fire Department Recognition Act.
• Requires the state to cover all costs associated with these mental health programs for volunteers and part-time employees.
• Updates the definition of 'public safety employee' to include both full-time and part-time workers in public safety roles.
• Revises application requirements for fire departments, requiring them to provide detailed information about their members when applying to operate as a recognized department.

Who It Names or Affects

• Active volunteer and part-time firefighters
• Public safety employers who must provide mental health services for their employees
• Fire departments applying to operate as recognized entities

Terms To Know

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

A program that offers counseling and support services to help employees deal with personal issues that might affect their work performance.

Public Safety Employee

An emergency medical worker or professional firefighter who is employed by a public safety employer, now including both full-time and part-time workers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the state will fund these new requirements.
• It remains unclear when exactly the provisions related to mental health support for firefighters will take effect.

Official Summary Text

This bill makes participation in the state's employee assistance program available for all active members of a volunteer fire department and all active volunteers of a combination fire department recognized under the Fire Department Recognition Act, with
the state required to pay all costs associated with such access. As used in such provision, an "employee assistance program" means a program that provides counseling, problem identification, intervention, assessment, or referral for appropriate diagnosi
s
and treatment, and follow-up services to assist employees who are impaired by personal concerns that may adversely affect employee job performance.

TENNESSEE PUBLIC SAFETY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACT

Present law requires public safety employers to provide their public safety employees with visits to a mental health service provider for the purpose of treating PTSD. Public safety employers are also required to promote the use of a mental health servi
ces provider, establish support programs to mitigate behavioral health issues, and maintain a list of mental health service providers qualified to provide trauma therapy. Present law defines a "public safety employee" as an emergency medical worker or pr
of
essional firefighter who is a paid, full-time employee of a public safety employer. This bill amends the definition to include paid full-time and part-time public safety employees.

APPLICATIONS TO OPERATE AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT

Present law requires a governmental entity, political subdivision, or other organization wishing to operate as a fire department to file an application with the state fire marshal's office. This bill requires the application to include a list of active
members of the department that includes each active member's name, mailing address, rank, public safety identification number, and birth date. This bill authorizes the state fire marshal's office to require more frequent updates on the department's membe
rs
hip list through electronic means for those departments participation in state programs and opportunities.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2216
By Walley

HOUSE BILL 1761
By Gant
HB1761
011316
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-
50-119 and Title 68, Chapter 102, relative to public
safety employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 102, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Participation in the state's employee assistance program, including
components for mental health and wellness, is available for all active members of a
volunteer fire department and all active volunteer members of a combination fire
department recognized under the Fire Department Recognition Act, compiled in part 3 of
this chapter. This state shall pay all costs associated with such access.
(b) For purposes of this section, "employee assistance program" means a
program that provides counseling, problem identification, intervention, assessment, or
referral for appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and follow-up services to assist
employees who are impaired by personal concerns, including, but not limited to, health,
marital, family, financial, alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress, or other personal
concerns that may adversely affect employee job performance.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-102-304(2), is amended by
deleting the language "as determined by the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System
(TFIRS)".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-102-304(4), is amended by
deleting the language "by certified mail".

- 2 - 011316

SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-102-304, is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision (2) and redesignating the existing subdivisions accordingly:
(2) A fire department shall submit with an application, in a format prescribed by
the state fire marshal's office, a list of active members of the department that includes,
but is not limited to, name, mailing address, rank, public safety identification number
(PSID), and birth date. The state fire marshal's office may require a more frequent
periodic update of the department's membership list through electronic means of those
departments participating in state grant programs, training or training incentive
programs, or other state-related opportunities.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-119(b)(3), is amended by
deleting "full-time" and substituting "full-time or part-time".
SECTION 6. Section 1 and Section 5 take effect January 1, 2027, the public welfare
requiring it. The remaining sections take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare
requiring it.